A zebra is the four-legged animal recognized for its bold black-and-white stripes. Zebras are African equines related to horses and donkeys, and three living species exist: the plains zebra, the mountain zebra and Grévy’s zebra.
Their stripes are not identical across the species—or even between individuals. Each zebra has a distinctive pattern, much like a fingerprint. The coat is often described as white with black stripes, although zebra skin itself is black. Foals are born with brown-and-white coats, with the brown darkening as they mature.
Scientists have proposed several explanations for the stripes, including camouflage and confusing predators. Evidence strongly supports another function: the pattern can help deter biting flies, whose vision is disrupted by closely spaced stripes. Zebras mostly graze and live in habitats ranging from African grasslands and savannahs to woodlands and mountainous areas.